Can You Legally Purchase Non-Alcoholic Near Beer?

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Where to buy near beer

If you're looking to buy non-alcoholic beer, or near beer, there are a number of online and in-store options available.

Online Options:

• Breweries: Many breweries stock their non-alcoholic products on their websites, so this is a great way to find your favourite brands or new releases. Some breweries that offer online ordering include Hairless Dog Brewing, Heineken, and Buckler.
• Amazon: Amazon has a wide selection of non-alcoholic beers, including classic imports like Heineken 0.0, Erdinger NA, and Clausthaler, as well as craft brews and non-alcoholic spirits and wine.
• NA Craft Beverages: This online store specialises in alcohol-free drinks, offering a great variety of craft non-alcoholic beers, such as Brooklyn Brewery's Special Effects and Point 5's Pilsner. They also have a range of hop water, craft sodas, and mocktails.
• Total Wine: While Total Wine is known for its physical stores, they also offer online ordering and shipping for their fully-stocked non-alcoholic section, including craft beers that can't be found elsewhere online.
• Beverage Universe: This website offers a solid variety of imported and lighter non-alcoholic beers, as well as mixed variety packs for sampling different breweries.
• Well.ca: This Canadian health and wellness company delivers to the United States and has a small variety of non-alcoholic beers, including options from Partake and Grüvi. They also offer NA wines, spirits, craft cider, and shrubs.
• Cocktail Emporium: Another Canadian company that ships internationally, Cocktail Emporium sells low and alcohol-free beverages and mixers, including non-alcoholic beers from Partake and Grüvi, and spirits from Seedlip and Sobrii.

In-Store Options:

• Total Wine: With over 200 locations, Total Wine is widely known for its fully-stocked non-alcoholic section, which includes craft beers like Ceria's lineup.
• Whole Foods: Whole Foods has a great selection of local and obscure beers, and is a good place to start when looking to buy local brews.

Beer buying hours by state

Beer buying hours vary by state in the US, with some states keeping it simple by implementing a single set of hours for all types of liquor sales. However, most states have different rules for on-premises and off-premises sales, and some even vary by county or city. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of beer buying hours:

• Alabama: Beer can be purchased at grocery and liquor stores from 6 am to 2 am, seven days a week. However, several counties, known as dry counties, prohibit alcohol sales.
• Alaska: Beer can be purchased any day of the week between 8 am and 5 am. Local jurisdictions may have more restrictive laws.
• Arizona: Beer is available for purchase every day from 6 am to 2 am.
• Arkansas: Beer sales are prohibited in most jurisdictions.
• California: Beer can be bought on-premises or off-premises from 6 am to 2 am, every day of the year. Cities and counties may have additional restrictions.
• Colorado: Beer is only available at liquor stores and licensed drug stores.
• Connecticut: There are no longer statewide Sunday prohibitions, but local ordinances may restrict on-premises sales on Sundays.
• Delaware: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day are prohibited for alcohol sales in liquor stores, taprooms, and brewpubs. Larger municipalities can set stricter hours.
• District of Columbia: Alcohol sales are allowed until 4 am on New Year's Eve and 3 am before federal and district holidays.
• Florida: State law prohibits alcohol sales between 1 am and 7 am, but counties can override this. For example, Miami-Dade County allows 24/7 alcohol sales.
• Georgia: Sunday off-premises sales are prohibited from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm unless the local jurisdiction opts into Sunday afternoon sales by referendum. Otherwise, liquor laws are set by the local jurisdiction.
• Hawaii: Beer can be purchased until 2 am, or 4 am with a cabaret license, in Honolulu County. In Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties, beer sales end at 11 pm.
• Idaho: Beer and wine sales begin at 6 am, and liquor sales start at 10 am, ending at 1 am. Counties and cities may extend service until 2 am but cannot make exceptions for Christmas Day.
• Illinois: Local jurisdictions set most liquor laws, but in some counties, 24-hour bars are allowed.
• Indiana: Beer and liquor sales hours are not specified.
• Iowa: Sunday alcohol sales run from 8 am to 2 am, and on weekdays from 6 am to 2 am.
• Kansas: Alcohol sales are prohibited on Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.
• Kentucky: State laws exist but have numerous exceptions, so local jurisdictions should be consulted.
• Louisiana: Alcohol sales hours are set by local jurisdictions, with some areas, such as Cameron Parish and the metro areas of New Orleans and Lake Charles, allowing 24-hour sales.
• Maine: Beer can be purchased daily from 5 am to 1 am.
• Maryland: Local jurisdictions set liquor laws, with some prohibiting Sunday sales, including parts of Baltimore County and Garrett County.
• Massachusetts: Alcohol sales are prohibited on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (and the following day if Christmas falls on a Sunday). An extra half-hour of sales is allowed before a holiday. Cities and towns may restrict on-premises sales before 11 am or after 11 pm.
• Michigan: Alcohol sales are prohibited on Christmas Day until noon and extended until 4 am on New Year's Day. Local jurisdictions may further restrict Sunday sales.
• Minnesota: Local jurisdictions can restrict off-premises sales hours.
• Mississippi: Local jurisdictions typically set alcohol sales hours, with Sunday and Christmas Day sales generally restricted. Coastal casinos can provide free alcohol 24/7.
• Missouri: On-premises and off-premises sales are allowed from 6 am to 1:30 am every day. Some bars and nightclubs in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Lake of the Ozarks have special licenses to serve until 3 am.
• Montana: Alcohol sales are restricted by some local ordinances. Low ABV beer and wine sales end at 2 am.
• Nebraska: Alcohol sales start at 6 am, and municipalities can extend on-premises sales until 2 am. Sunday sales vary by jurisdiction.
• Nevada: Alcohol sales are allowed at any hour, every day, except in the dry township of Penaca.
• New Hampshire: Alcohol sales hours are not specified.
• New Jersey: On-premises sales hours are set by the municipality, with most jurisdictions allowing sales from 9 am to 2 am. Off-premises sales are typically restricted to liquor stores. Atlantic City and nearby municipalities serve alcohol 24/7.
• New Mexico: Sunday alcohol sales are generally prohibited, but some jurisdictions sell special Sunday permits. If New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday, sales are allowed.
• New York: Liquor stores are open from noon to 9 pm, and many counties restrict hours further. Some restrict overnight sales or Sunday morning beer sales.
• North Carolina: Alcohol sales hours on Sundays are not specified.
• North Dakota: Alcohol sales are restricted on Thanksgiving (after 2 am) and Christmas Eve (after 6 pm).
• Ohio: Alcohol can be purchased on-premises or off-premises from 5:30 am to 1 am every day.
• Oklahoma: Alcohol sales hours are not specified.
• Oregon: Beer can be purchased from 7 am to 2:30 am, every

Alcohol content restrictions

According to federal policy, an alcoholic beverage is defined as any beverage containing over 0.05% alcohol, and most states adhere to this limit. However, there may be some variability, with certain states and localities imposing stricter or more lenient restrictions. For example, in Minnesota, non-alcoholic beer (less than 0.5% ABV) is not considered an alcoholic beverage and can be purchased by those under the legal drinking age. In contrast, states like Texas specify that beverages containing more than 0.5% ABV are alcoholic and subject to the same restrictions as regular beer.

In the United Kingdom, the government provides guidance on the descriptions for "alcohol substitute" drinks, including alcohol-free beer, but the use of these descriptions is voluntary. Drinks labelled as "no alcohol" or "alcohol-free" must contain no more than 0.05% ABV, while "dealcoholized" drinks can have up to 0.5% ABV, and "low-alcohol" drinks can have up to 1.2% ABV.

In Sweden, low-alcohol beer is defined as having 2.2%, 2.8%, or 3.5% ABV. Beer with an ABV of 3.5% or lower can be purchased in any convenience store by individuals over 18 years of age, while stronger beer must be bought in state-run liquor stores and is restricted to those over 20.

These varying alcohol content restrictions demonstrate the diverse approaches different regions take towards regulating the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Beer minimum drinking age

The minimum legal drinking age and the minimum legal purchase age are two different things and vary from country to country. In the United States, the minimum legal drinking age is 21 in all states except Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where the age is 18. However, the minimum legal purchase age was not standardized across the US until the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. Before this, the minimum legal purchase age varied by state, with some states setting it as low as 18.

The minimum legal drinking age in the majority of countries is 18. However, some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19, while others have no laws restricting the sale of alcohol to minors. For example, in Equatorial Guinea, there are no laws that prevent the sale of alcohol to minors. In contrast, some countries, like Libya, prohibit the sale, production, and consumption of alcohol entirely.

It is important to note that the minimum legal drinking age and the minimum legal purchase age can be different, even within the same country. For example, in the United Arab Emirates, the legal drinking age is 18 in Abu Dhabi, 21 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and alcohol is prohibited in Sharjah.

The minimum legal drinking age and purchase age have changed over time and continue to be the subject of debate in many countries.

Alcohol licenses and permits

On-Premise Licenses

On-premise licenses, also known as on-sale licenses or on-licenses, are required for bars and restaurants that serve alcohol for consumption on their property. These licenses have restrictions on the type and amount of alcohol that can be served and may also have conditions related to food service. There are different types of on-premise licenses, including:

• Restaurant license: Allows restaurants to sell beer, wine, or hard liquor. The sale of alcohol must not exceed a certain percentage of the establishment's overall revenue.
• Beer and wine license: Permits the sale of beer and wine, and sometimes hard cider, without the need to serve spirits.
• Tavern license: For bars or restaurants where more than 50% of their revenue comes from alcohol sales.

Off-Premise Licenses

Off-premise licenses, or off-licenses, are required for liquor or grocery stores that sell alcohol for carryout. These licenses allow the sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption and may include permissions for delivery services. Examples include:

• Package store permit: Authorizes the sale of distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages for off-premise consumption and includes the authority to transport inventory and conduct product tastings.
• Wine-only package store permit: Similar to the package store permit but restricted to the sale of wine and malt beverages.
• Retail dealer's off-premise license: Allows the sale of malt beverages for off-premise consumption, with certain restrictions in beer-only local option areas.

Manufacturing and Distribution Licenses

Licenses and permits are also required for businesses involved in the production and distribution of alcohol. These include:

• Brewer's license: Authorizes the manufacturing of malt beverages, including beer, and their distribution to licensed purchasers.
• Winery permit: Permits the manufacturing of wine, including transportation and storage privileges.
• Distiller's and rectifier's permit: Allows the manufacturing of distilled spirits and the authority to transport, store, and sell these products to consumers.
• General distributor's license: Permits the distribution of malt beverages, including the authority to import and transport products.
• Wholesaler's permit: Authorizes the distribution of distilled spirits and wine, including importation, transportation, and storage.

Special Licenses and Permits

In addition to the standard licenses, there are also special licenses and permits for specific types of businesses or activities. These include:

• Private club registration permit: Allows fraternal and veterans' organizations to serve alcohol to their members and guests, even in dry areas.
• Passenger transportation permit: Authorizes airlines, buses, boats, and trains to sell and serve alcohol to passengers for onboard consumption.
• Nonprofit entity temporary event permit: Permits certain organizations to sell, serve, and auction alcohol at temporary events.
• Consumer delivery permit: Authorizes retailers and delivery companies to deliver alcoholic beverages sold by a retailer to consumers.
• Bonded warehouse permit: Permits the storage of distilled spirits and wine on behalf of producers and wholesalers.

The process of obtaining an alcohol license or permit can be complex and varies by state and business type. It typically involves contacting the relevant state or local alcoholic beverage control board, completing and submitting applications, and paying associated fees. Businesses must also comply with regulations to maintain their licenses, including restrictions on selling to minors and intoxicated individuals.

Frequently asked questions